Transportation of ore on South Goa roads stopped

Panaji: Transportation of ore in South Goa has been put on a hold by the district administration owing to the accident-prone situation prevailing on roads, used to ferry the mining extract.

Mining companies and exporters have requested the government to lift the ban, which is supposed to continue till September 27, 2012.

South District Collector N D Agarwal, in his order, issued last week has said that the transportation should be stopped with immediate effect as it was affecting the general commuters, school-going children and others, using the road.

The ban covers entire South Goa which has more than 50 mining leases spread in talukas like Sanguem and Quepem. The mining companies have claimed that the ban is unwarranted as only lumpy ore is transported during the monsoons.

Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) Secretary Glenn Kalavampara has requested the state government to withdraw the ban, as it is denting the prospects of the mining trade, which is already in critical state.

"Only lumpy ore is ferried to the jetties (on the river front) during monsoon. The fines (miniscule particles of ore) are not transported during this season," Kalavampara said adding the government should permit the lumpy shipments during monsoon.

"However, if any mining company wants to do shipment of fines then they should also be allowed provided they are not creating any adverse conditions on the road," he added.

The district administration has said that the ban was imposed after receiving several representations from the local bodies including village panchayats, who had pointed out to the slippery road conditions during monsoons due to truck traffic.

Agarwal said that the ban would be reconsidered in next couple of days.
"We will have to consult all the stakeholders and complainants before reconsidering the ban," he said.

Goa exported 43 million metric tonnes of ore, most of it was iron ore from both the ports located in the state.

Almost 80 per cent of the mines cease their operations in the monsoons due to unfavourable weather conditions prevailing in the state.